On-Axis Fill: Ring Flash?

Darryl Roberts · Jan 11, 2020

Pieter12 said:
If you have a Speedlight, Rayflash makes a relatively inexpensive adapter. I don't think they're in business anymore, you should be able to find one used. A little plastic-y, but it would allow you to experiment to see if the effect is what you want. For fill, you really don't need too much power, a stop less than your main light.

View attachment 238005

Wow, interesting option, thank you.

AgX · Jan 11, 2020

AgX said:
Back then they were seemingly much less popular than today.
I do not think back then they ever were used for portraits.

I was thinking of the 60s and 70s.

Nokton48 · Jan 11, 2020

Darryl Roberts said:
Thank you but this one is more in my budget: https://www.paulcbuff.com/Flash-Units/alienbees-ringflash.html

For your needs this one is really cool. And it appears very adjustable. Check with the manufacturers for guide numbers or maybe it's in the specs.
Remember you might have bellows draw adjustment for shooting close up with your Norma.

320WS has more punch than Hasselblad ringlight and it's brand new. Norman pack is only 200WS but adjustable to 100WS or 50WS on the pack.

Hasselblad runs off battery and needs no AC power. Great for location work.

Nokton48 · Jan 11, 2020

Darryl Roberts said:
That Hasselblad, is it powerful enough to get f/11 on 100 Iso from about 5 feet away? And would it be adjustable?

I looked at one of my 283s; The Blad is 2X more powerful. According to the calculator dial, five feet at F22 with the Blad should be close at EI100. Maybe F32?

So with the Paul Buff unit you could dial it way down and be where you need to be. Of course you would have to test. Do you have a flash meter?

MattKing · Jan 11, 2020

Pieter12 said:
If you have a Speedlight, Rayflash makes a relatively inexpensive adapter. I don't think they're in business anymore, you should be able to find one used. A little plastic-y, but it would allow you to experiment to see if the effect is what you want. For fill, you really don't need too much power, a stop less than your main light.

While that looks fascinating, I'd be worried it would scare at least half of the people I might photograph with it!

Pieter12 · Jan 11, 2020

No less scary than any ring flash. I usually use it mounted to a light stand in front of the tripod. But then, I usually use a tripod in a studio setting.

Darryl Roberts · Jan 11, 2020

Nokton48 said:
I looked at one of my 283s; The Blad is 2X more powerful. According to the calculator dial, five feet at F22 with the Blad should be close at EI100. Maybe F32?

So with the Paul Buff unit you could dial it way down and be where you need to be. Of course you would have to test. Do you have a flash meter?

Awesome. Yes I have a Sekonic.

Darryl Roberts · Jan 11, 2020

My main is a Photogenic http://www.photogenic.com/item/82/201/pl2500dr-1000-ws-with-digital-display/ I may go with an Einstein from Paul C. Buff to match.

Patrick Robert James · Jan 11, 2020

I'd caution you to think twice before you ask someone to look at you and blast a ringlight right straight into their retina. I used to own an Elinchrom and even dialed way down it was still annoying so I stopped using it for people. If you are bound and determined to blast people with it, blast yourself first so you know what it is like. You pretty much temporarily blind the person you are shooting.

AgX · Jan 11, 2020

The power output Nokton and me had it about is the same as a hammerhead flash of the highest class. Unless the Hasselblad ringlight would have a smaller angle of emmittance there thus is no difference in blinding.

AgX · Jan 11, 2020

Here seemingly a ring-lamp is used without reflector, thus something different from what we consider when speaking of ring-light or ring-flash.

Darryl Roberts · Jan 11, 2020

Nokton48 said:
Ringlight image from the internet by Nokton48, on Flickr

Awesome

Darryl Roberts · Jan 11, 2020

Patrick Robert James said:
I'd caution you to think twice before you ask someone to look at you and blast a ringlight right straight into their retina. I used to own an Elinchrom and even dialed way down it was still annoying so I stopped using it for people. If you are bound and determined to blast people with it, blast yourself first so you know what it is like. You pretty much temporarily blind the person you are shooting.

Thank you. The wife has posed before some and didn't have an issue. I usually shoot 2/3 so that wouldn't be a problem

Darryl Roberts · Jan 11, 2020

Another good video

On-Axis Fill: Ring Flash?

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